LARGE BEQUESTS MADE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22198, 15 September 1937, Page 10

LARGE BEQUESTS MADE

♦ WILL OF MR ROBERT BELL TRAVELLING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR JOURNALISTS Several thousands of pounds in public bequests, as well as a valuable collection of historic pictures, have been given under the will of Mr Robert Bell, whose death occurred in London on August 24. Mr Bell was well known through the province for his services to journalism, especially in Asbburton and Christchurch. The Perpetual Trustees Company, Ltd., advise that under his will the sum of £SOOO is given upon trust to pay- the income yearly to provide travelling scholarships of £IOO each for students who have taken the Diploma in Journalism at the School of Journalism instituted at Canterbury College some years ago. It was the late Fr Bell's wish thai such scholarships should be granted on condition that the holders travel qut of New Zealand and as extensively as possib'e abroad, and during such travels should devote as much attention as practicable to irrigation projects, tree planting, improved agricultural methods, and other subjects which could be expected to be of interest to the fanning community of the Ashburton County. Mr Bell directed also that such scholarship-holders should write I articles setting out the observations Sand information gained on those subjects and such articles should be submitted to the "Ashburton Mail and Guardian," a newspaper of which he was principal proprietor. A further gift of £IOOO is made to the Board of Governors of the Ashburton High School. This fund is to be invested, and the annual income is to provide a scholarship to assist a pupil, either male or female, to attend the School of Journalism at Canterbury College for three years, or such other period as may be provided by the col- [ lege as the requisite time for qualifying for the diploma in journalism. The holder of any of these scholarships shall not be disqualified from participating in the scholarship instituted by Mr Bell at Canterbury College and already known as the Robert Bell scholarship. A further provision is made, after the death of a life tenant, giving to the Christchurch Municipal Art Gallery, knpwn as the Robert McDougall Art Gallery, his picture, Kensington's "Relaxation" (at present lent to the Canterbury Society of Arts and hanging in the gallery, Durham street, Christchurch), also the following pictures in his residence: "Twilight Venice," by Terrick Williams; two Baxter prints, "The Flag of Truce," by J. D. Linton; "Drying Sails," by H. S. Luke; and the choice of two pictures by James Nairn; two pictures by C. F. Goldie, three pictures by van der Velden; and three pictures by Claude Hayes, and any of his etchings that may be thought suitable for hangi'.i.fr.